Combined cigarette case and closure means



G. REITZEL COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND cLosURE MEANS Filed July 2, 1957 24 INVENTOR.

GEORG REITZEL YHQWMW ATToRNEYs Y pivotalifulcrum means extending outwardly from'anoprette case' made in' accordance with the presentinvention.

United States PatentO' lice Y This invention relates to cigarette 'cases' a'ndfno're particularly, to a 'cigarette-case for 'cigarette 71ga1'cka`ge's'which has a hingedlyconne'cted cover-'member arid 'rele'asable latch means for securing the coverne'niber in a llos'e'd position therewith.

l Various types of cigarette 'cases havelbeenp'rovided Afor 20 enclosing both loose cigarettes and packages of cigarettes Afor protectiveand decorative purposes, such cases to be, carried in a suit pocket, a handbag, and 4the like. However, the closure means lordinarily associated with such cigarette cases are somewhat complicated vandfrequently requirerepain Also,"rna`ny of these closure means are released in' response to a squeezing actionA upon ltheznger ,pressure plate'toward a side lwallvof the case. v v Thus,-such 't :cases 'are 'often Vaccidentally opened when carried finlthe purse'or pocket, theeliyintroducing an additionalwin'con- 30 fvenien'ce to the user. t i

Accordingly, an object'of the prsentinventiontis to 'provide a novel cigarette case and closure Adei/ice thatzis lsimple in construction, leii'cient incoperation, andw-hich "willovercome the aforementioned diticulties.

Another object of the present'invention is 4toprovi'de 'a cigarette case having a hingedlyaconnected cover, includying manually releasable novel closure mea-ns .frorssecuring the covervin a closed position with the side walls of the case.

A'furtherobject ofthe 4present inventionais-tolprovide a cigaretteV case of the yabove type in which Vthe closure assembly includes relatively few par-ts, `andfis actuated toward a release. position -by` exerting a tilting forcetupon the lassociatedpressure platein a directionsubstantially 45 perpendicular to the plane of the cover-member within the closedposition. v f A still further object' of r-the vvpresentinvention isto provide a novel closure assemblyforcgarette cases-having a hingedly connected cover member thatincludesdwo 50 Ibasic components, 'one-of which is fa'unitarynger pressure plate, pivotv,means, and lz'1tc.h-'ho k, 4 the othermemher being 'a Spring element thatgmaintains-the :latchfplate in proper assembled relationship within the casefa'nd biases ittoward va normally closing position towardtengagement with the cover member thereof` f'A more 'specific object of the :present invention-.is to provide a lateh plate for use;iiigcigarettecases'that,in cludes'a substantially Vflat fingerpressure plate,a latch hook extending outwardly from one side of theplatepand p ositeside of the pressure. plate'.lv

Allof the foregoing and still Vfurther lohjeets and advantages "of this invention will becomeapparenttf'rom a study of'the following specification, takenin connection 65 withthe'accompanyingdrawing, wherein: u Y

Figure 4l vis a fragmentary perspective .view ofi-a cigaf v"Figure `2'is an enlarged transverse cross sectionalview 'takenalong'1ine-242'ofFigure'1. L, i

Figre 3"'isan exploded rag'mentaryprspective view fcertain'of'the'pperating'-pats showniirliig'iure'l. Y

Ptented Feb. 177, 1959 Y 2 )Figure Y4==is an enlarged` transverse .cross-sectionalvie takn along line 4;4 of- Figure l2; showingfthetpartsiin af-normally closed position; and

`Figure 5 fis a view similar' to Figure'4, f'showirig'tlie fparts in the released or open position.

v"R'eferringnow to the-fdrawing, and more particularly ltto-Figure t1 thereof, acigarette case 10 made infaccorfd- Vvance with the present invention isshown to include vspacc'zrl ,front and back walls 12, 13, respectively, `and spaced 'iparallel sidewalls 14, 15. This Acaseis'closed atlthe A`bottom end and `deiines an open'upperfend having'aclo- 'fsurefassem'bly associated therewith. 't

.Thispclosure assemly includes an annularbaseframefz y that` is `ofsubstantially U-shaped crossr'se'ction having 'an :inner sideleg 23,an outer side leg 24g'fa'nd fa-connecti'nfg base web `26. A longitudinally"extending -hingeZS'assoaciated with one' edge of the base'frame'is 'pivotally-'confne'ctel -to one side Vof ya depending peripheral llan'ge 2 9 fof Ia lcover member. Thus, the cover member-isgselectively rotatable between an open and v.a closedjpositio'n 'f'.relative tothe base frame and compartment defining vwalls of the cigarette case. /A torsion spring (not shownla'sf sociated with thellongitudinal hinge 2Sfnorma1lybiases Fthefcover .mem-ber 30 toward the open position shown in :Figure l; Y AVIntegral :latch means associated vwithlthe base traine :and vcover member Stlis-provide'd selectively toi-maintain the cover member 30 yi'rra closed 'positionfrelative'totlie base frame 20 against theaction oi' the torsionhingc -spring Iso fas I'com1t`aletely---v to 'enclose anytci'ga'rfettes conitainedwithin the.case,in a conventinalnianen This nal aXissubstan'tia-lly parallel Vtto the "sidesrari'd base-'def f lining the Abase fframe' 720"j by means'gof falongitudinally extending leaf spring member R40. `'-This "spring 'overlies 'the 'mid'portion of :the latch plate 315,fan'd is secured jat each'end'-'to'the b ase fra'rnebyv means oil-downwardly str'ucktabs 42,-as`lclelarlysh`own inV Figures l'2jarld'3 "The outr ls`e`rratd portion 45 of the latch lplate 'l fingerA `pressure plate "for f actuating lthe closure' device' as "willlhereinafter be described. I'hefadjacennt facingp'ortin of v'the o'ver member Eit) is provided'vith 'an inw dl'y direc'te'd plate '47 thatfdetines acent'ral aperture lhSjarnd fa latch" engaging lip 549. rThis ylip*-l9""'\' vhre n lmovefd finto engagement with f the latch hoek 136' Sdfthe :latch -vplates" is .operative tobe-engaged 'thereby soas eleasablyf'tllsecurc `the cove'rl inl afclo'sedV position. l

-20,4thel1atchfme'as, andthe' cover -inemb'er 30is installed :as 'alunfit upon the opening definingvv portions "of 'theirifain body: of the cigarette case, the U-shapedbasesection freflceiving. the. side Walls Loflthe case therebetween; asffelerly shownin Figures {41and 5. Inwardly struck 'hook '52 ofthe/inside lv`va11123 f thebasefanie'are operativeto engagethel respectivefwalls ofthefcigarette'fcase-to Tm'ainllongitudinal hinge spring tending to rotate the cover i andere member toward the open position. By then exerting a pressure against the nger pressure plate 45 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cover member 30 and the plane of the base member 20, the entire latch plate 35 will be rotated about a central transverse axis through the action of the fulcrum lugs 395- against the adjacent walls of the U-shaped base frame, as shown in Figure 5, to withdraw the latch hook 36 out of engagement with the latch lip 49 of the cover member 30, in which position the cover member 30 is free to move to the open position shown in Figures l and 5. This latch plate is held in the open position 35a .against the action of the leaf spring 40 whichV tends to return it to the normal position 35, shown in Figure 4. It will thus be recognized that a simple and novel closure assembly forv cigarette cases has been provided that has a minimum number of parts and which is actuated in response to a pressure exerted in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the associated cover and base members.

1 While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

l. In `combination with a case having spaced Walls del ning a storage compartment with an enlarged opening for removably receiving a cigarette package, a closure assembly for said enlarged opening including an annular base frame of substantially U-shaped cross section having spaced parallel sides and a connecting base wall receiving said opening dening portions of said compartment walls, a cover member hingedly connected to one end of said base frame for selective pivotal movement between an open and a normally closed position relative thereto, latch means associated with said cover member and said base frame for controlling said pivotal move/ment of said cover member, said latch means including a latch hook at one end and a nger pressure plate at an opposite end, one of said spaced parallel sides dening a longitudinal slot at least as long as said finger pressure plate, said connecting base wall defining a rectangular cutout at least as long as said latch hook in direct communication vwith respect to said one parallel side into assembly therewith, said rectangular cutout receiving said latch hook perpendicularly therein, said longitudinal slotreceiving the "adjacent portions of said finger rpressure plate, said latch hook extending perpendicularly outwardly from one side of said latch plate and opening toward said one end of said plate, a leaf spring extending along an opposite side of said latch plate securing said latch plate within said base y,frame and yieldably preventing pivotal movement of said latch plate away from said connected base Wall from a normal cover engaging position to a manually lactuated cover released position, the ends of said leaf spring being secured to said connecting base wall of said U- shaped base frame, the intermediate portion of said leaf spring underlying said latch plate adjacent to one side threeof, said latch plate being confined between said leaf spring and said connecting base Wall of said U-shaped baseframe, and said one side of said latch plate comprises fulcrum lug means extending outwardly therefrom ,in a direction opposite to that of said latch hook, said fulcrum lug means engaging the other one of said spaced parallel sides of said frame. i ff y ,i 2. In combination with a case having spacedwallslde- 4 lining a storage compartment with an enlarged opening for removably receiving a cigarette package, a closure assembly for said enlarged opening including an annular base frame of substantially U-shaped cross section having spaced parallel sides and a connecting base wall receiving said opening dening portions of said compartment walls, a covermember hingedly connected to one end of said base frame for selective pivotal movement between an open and a normally closed position relative thereto, latch means associated with said cover member and said base `frame for controlling said pivotal movement of said cover member, said latch means including a latch hook at one end and a linger pressureplate at an opposite end, one of said spaced parallel sides dening a longitudinal slot at least as long vas said iinger pressure plate, said connecting base wall defining a rectangular cutout at least as long as said latch hook in direct communication with said longitudinal slot, said latch plate being movable within the plane of said base frame transversely with respect 'to said one parallel side into assembly therewith, said rectangular cutout receiving said latch hook perpendicularly therein, said longitudinal slot receiving the adjacent portions of said finger pressure plate, said latch hook extending perpendicular outwardly from one side of said latch plate and opening toward said one end of said plate, a leaf spring extending along an opposite side of said latch plate securing said latch plate within said base frame and yieldably preventing pivotal movement of said rlatch plate away from the other one of said parallel sides of said' frame from a normal cover engaging position to a manually actuatedv cover released position, the ends of said leaf spring being secured to one of said'walls of said U-shaped base frame, the intermediate portion of said leaf spring underlying said latch plate adjacent to one side thereof, said latch plate being coniined between said leaf spring and said connecting wall of said U-shaped base frame, said one side of said latch plate including fulcrum lug means extending outwardly from said latch plate in a direction opposite to that of said latch hook, said fulcrum lug means engaging said other parallel side of said U- shaped base frame, said hinged cover member including spring means normally biasing said cover member toward an open position, said latch hook in response to movement of said cover member toward a closed position engaging with said latch hook engagement means of said cover member for releasably securing said cover member in a closed position, said latch hook in response to movement of said finger pressure plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said U-shaped base frame being rotatable out of engagement with said latch hook engagement means against the action of said leaf spring to release said cover member for rotation toward an open position by said cover spring hinge means, and said latch hook engagement means comprising portions of said cover member facing said base frame dcniug an aperture receiving said latch hook therebetween and dening a lip for engagement by Said latch hook.

3. In lcombination with a case having spaced walls de ning a storage compartment having an enlarged opening for removably receiving a cigarette package, a closure assembly for said enlarged opening including an annular base frame of substantially U-shaped cross section having spaced parallel sides and a connected base wall receiving said opening deliningportions of said compartment walls', a cover member hingedly connected to one end of vsaid base frame for selective pivotal movement between an open and a closed position relative thereto, latch means associated with said cover member 4and said base frame controlling said pivotal movement of said cover member, said latch means including a latch hook at one end and a viinger pressure plate at an opposite end, one of said spaced parallel sides defining a longitudinal slot at least with said longitudinal slot, said latch plate being movable within the plane of said base frame transversely of said one parallel side into assembly therewith, said rectangu lar cutout receiving said latch hook perpendicularly there in and said longitudinal slot receiving adjacent portions of said linger pressure plate, said latch hook extending perpendicularly outwardly from one side of said latch plate and opening away from said linger pressure plate, a leaf spring extending along an opposite side of said latch plate yieldably preventing pivotal movement of said latch plate from a normal cover engaging position to a manually actuated cover released position, the opposite parallel side of said U-shaped base frame having inwardly struck tabs extending toward said one parallel side overlying and clampingly securing the ends of said leaf spring between said inwardly struck tabs and said base wall of said U-shaped base frame, the intermediate portion of said leaf spring overlying and confining said latch plate between said leaf spring and said base wall, said leaf spring yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said latch plate about its longitudinal axis within said base frame, said leaf spring and tabs lying substantially parallel to said v connected base wall, and said latch plate further includ- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,807 Metcalf Nov. 25, 1919 1,883,793 Johnson Oct. 18, 1932 2,179,669 Parkin Nov. 14, 1939 2,448,409 Barnes Aug. 31, 1948 2,710,212 Larimore June 7, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 612,789 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,873,876 February 1'7, 1959 Georg Reitzel It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the .said Letters Patent should read as Vcorrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 3, for Hassignor, by mesne assignments, to Randolph-Rand Corporation, of New York, N. Y. a corporation of New York," read assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Dre'sQher @c Kiefer, of Altenmittlau Kreis' Gelnhausen, Germany, a German firm, and one,k half to Randolph-Rand Corporation, of New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York, x'; linev l2, for' "Randolph-Rand Corporation, its successors" read Drescher & Kiefer and Randolph-Rand Corporation, their successors' mf; inthe' heading to the printed specification, linesl 5, 6 and 7,- for H,ass.ignor, by mesne assignments, to Randolph-Rand Corporation, New York,r N. Y. 'a corporation of New York" read assignor, by 'direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Drescher & Kiefer, Altenmittlau Kreis Gelnhausen, Germany, a German firm, and one-half to Randolph-Rand Corporation, New York, N. Y. a corporation of New York Signed and sealed this 23rd day ofv June 1959.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. `AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attejsting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

